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How to Find a Job in the New Economy, Part 4

Part 4 of 5 Improve Your Professional Profile and Create Your Own Brand
How to set goals and follow through by building your own professional and personal brand.
===
Presented by Evelyn Trimborn, author of “Questions You Need to Ask on Your Next Job Interview,” published by Eternal Spiral Books. For more info, visit: http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions

How to Find a Job in the New Economy, Part 4

1.
•
Part 4 of 5 Improve Your Professional
Profile and Create Your Own Brand
FINDING A JOB
The Best Ways to Hunt For Your
Dream Job in the New Economy
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
1

2.
A recap of the series so far
• In Part 1, we discussed resumes
• In Part 2, we discussed a range of opportunities
• Part 3, we covered:
• Online Job Hunting
• Working Online
• Volunteering
• Social Networking
• In this part, we are going to discuss:
• Improving your professional profile
• Positioning yourself as your own brand or businesshttp://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
2

3.
A great resume opens doors. Networking and
connections can also open a world of possibilities. Start
viewing your job hunt as beto work as the CEO of “Me,
Incorporated.” It can make the difference between
struggling and succeeding in your chosen career.
Make the Most of What
and Who You Know
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
3

4.
Assess where you are at the moment
Becoming unemployed, especially suddenly, can
be a real shock to the system, especially if it is:
• A-the first time
• B-you were cut because of downsizing but your
performance feedback was great
• C-you were laid off or even fired because of real
or perceived limitations in your work
• D-you were fired for cause and want to make
sure you do not sabotage yourself again
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
4

5.
A-First time unemployment
• There will be a lot of paperwork involved in
applying for benefits
• Be sure to carefully look over any severance
package you might be offered
• Be clear about the requirements for collecting
benefits, either in person or online
• Attend all interviews and meetings associated
with benefits
• Use all the free resources available to you
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
5

6.
B-Downsizing
• If you were happy in your position and doing well
but got downsized through no fault of your own, and
are happy with your career path, update your
resume and get back out there as quickly as
possible
• If you were not so happy, use this time to explore
other options
• Update your resume, or create more than one
resume, to reflect what you had been doing, and
what you are eager to continue to do
• If you are thinking of changing careers, start
gathering experience in that field
6

7.
C-Limitations in Your Work
If you were laid off due to real or perceived limitations in
your work:
• What were the specific comments?
• How could you try to improve in those areas:
 Get more experience with another company, in an
internship, or through working with a mentor
 Take a class
 Study online
 Work as a freelancer or in your own company
How can you get good references in this situation? Ask
a colleague instead of a former boss, etc.
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
7

8.
D-Fired with Cause
Right down a clear timeline of the events that led up to you
losing your job
• Look at key moments in the timeline
 What could you have done differently?
 What might the outcome have been instead?
• Are you working in the right career, or are you looking for
a change?
• In addition to exploring your current or proposed career
path, what other things do you need to work on?
• Relationship building, anger management, organization,
handling stress, needing more confdence, and so on
8

9.
If money is your hope for independence you
will never have it. The only real security that a
man can have in this world is a reserve of
knowledge, experience, and ability.
-Henry Ford
Know Yourself9
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions

10.
Your Mindset Now
• Whatever reason for your losing your job, it is
easy to get stuck with questions like “Why me?”
• It is easy to start feeling like a victim
• Some people can feel very depressed at the
loss of a job, especially if they base their identity
closely on the work they do: “I am a doctor,”
rather than, “I work as a doctor.”
• Not getting interviews or hearing no can take its
toll on even the most confident person
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
10

11.
The Fear Factor
It is easy to feel fear in this situation and in this
economy:
• Bad news on the job front
• Bad news about economic recovery
• Few job listings in your locale or career
• Feeling like you are ‘blowing your chances’ on
interviews
• Struggling to pay the bills
• Feeling ‘stuck’ in your life or career, with few of
the opportunities you have been longing for
11

12.
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
• There may not be much you can do about the
economy and the current job market, but you CAN
control your response to the situation
• It is natural to be worried, but do not let worry stop
you from taking action
• View your current state as a challenge or
opportunity rather than a disaster
• Take this time to set goal and priorities-at what age
do you want to retire?
• How do you want to live your years until
retirement?
12

13.
Taking Action to Take Your Career to
the Next Level
• Update your resume.
• Use action words.
• Write down all of the tasks you did every day in
your last job and other posts in a long “Master
Resume” that you will update regularly even
when you are working full time
• Once you have a Master Resume, edit it as
needed to focus on a specific type of job, such
as sales, marketing and so on.
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
13

14.
Match Your Skills to the Market
If there is a shortage of jobs in your field in your
location, try to match your skills to the market
• What are some of the things that you did in the
past that you could do again if you had to?
• What key skills and abilities in your past jobs
would translate well in a new career or industry
• What skills would you say, "Oh, I'm not very
good at THAT.." How long would it take you to
become good at it, and how could you increase
your skills? Free study online, a course at the
local college, etc.
14

15.
Take a 360 Degree View
We work 9 to 5, but there are 24 hours in a day.
Look at all your skills in totality:
• What hobbies do you enjoy?
• What skills have you learned which might be able
to translate into paid employment?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? An
online employment-related quiz can pinpoint them.
• Could the strengths you discover and the skills you
have and plan to improve lead to a new career?
• In what ways could these skills contribute to your
success if you were to start your own business?
15

16.
Thinking Even More About Your Skills
• Are you often asked to teach people things?
Consider being a coach or consultant.
• Are you often asked to help out at church or a
community group because "You're so good at
that"? You are ready for more leadership.
• What would it take to transform your hobby or
volunteer work into a paying business?
• What contacts could you make in the community?
• What opportunities come from working freelance?
• Is it time to become your own boss?
16

17.
Once you have examined your skills, abilities and
goals, it is time to start exploring all of your
opportunities. The traditional job hunt is just one
avenue to explore.
A World of Opportunities17
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions

18.
Finding Opportunities in Your Field
Once you have assessed your skills and defined
your goals, you will start looking through all the
ads you can find depending on your criteria:
• Job title
• Industry
• Location or place you would like to move to
• Level of skill/years of experience
• Salary level
18

19.
Finding Opportunities through Networking
Networking is key, especially if you wish to tap into
the hidden job market.
 Who do you know that owns their own business?
 Who do you know that just got a new job? Their
old one is vacant!
 Who do you know that hires people for their
company or small business?
 What local businesses could use temporary help?
19

20.
Tap into Your Social Network
What about your social network online?
 Who are you connected to on LinkedIn?
 Who is looking for freelancers or temporary help?
 Holidays-extra hands always needed; they start
hiring in Sept. for the Christmas rush
 Summer-vacation; coverage often required
 Rush jobs and project work=can help keep money
coming in until you get full-time work
20

21.
Make the Most of Online Connections
• Are you on LinkedIn yet?
• If not, create a great profile today.
• Is your resume at all of the top job boards
online? If not, get them up there!
• Are there specific job boards for your industry?
• Are there discussion boards or blogs particular
to your industry? Be active there. Show
you are ‘in the know’.
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
21

22.
Make Real World Connections
Don’t underestimate the power of offline contacts.
• Tell friends and family you are looking for a job
• Are you a member of the local Chamber of
Commerce?
• Ever consider joining a Speakers’ Bureau?
• Have your business cards and elevator speech
at the ready whenever you are out of the
house
• Remember, even if they do not need your
services, they might refer you to someone who
does.
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23.
You have the knowledge and skills Now you
have to market yourself better.
Market Yourself Effectively23
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions

24.
Google Yourself
• More than 75% of recruiters will Google you.
What will they see?
• You may have to do some damage control! Do it
sooner rather than later. Get all the
unprofessional and personal stuff off your
Facebook page, blog, etc. ASAP.
• Have a professional email address
• What can you do to enhance your reputation
online to impress and gain offline opportunities?
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
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25.
Show Off Your Expertise
• Post your resume on your site.
• Create your own online portfolio of work and post
the URL. In WordPress, you can password- protect
the page if you wish.
• Start a blog-your work will start to climb the search
engine rankings and push down the bad things
(eventually)
• Is it even YOU? Or someone with the same name?
Brand yourself like a business with your name, title
and location if need be in order to differentiate
yourself from those with the same name.
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
25

26.
Start Your Own Small Business
• You have the skills
• You have the knowledge
• You have the contacts
• You get so tired of jumping through hoops, you put
your job hunting energy to use starting your own
small business
• Use your social network online and offline to get
paying clients
• When successful, you can create jobs yourself,
even for your own family and friends
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
26

27.
Ways to Make Money 1
• Coaching
• Consulting
• Mentoring (this can connect you with people
who will want to buy your professional services)
• Teaching courses at the local college or online
• Starting a blog or website, if you do not already
have one
• Create a free or paid membership site
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
27

28.
Ways to Make Money 2
• Becoming an affiliate marketer and posting
custom links:
 in your email signature
 on your blog
 at your website
 in your social media accounts
• Freelancing
• Acting as a virtual assistant
• Telecommuting/taking a work at home position
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
28

29.
Conclusions
• Becoming unemployed can be a real shock to
the system, but it can also be an excellent
chance to review your career and goals to make
sure you are on the right path
• Once you have assessed your situation, apply
for jobs in the traditional way, network to tap into
the hidden job market, and network off and
online.
• If you do not seem to be getting the kinds of
offers you want, consider going into business for
yourself. http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
29

30.
Credits
Thank you to Evelyn Trimborn and Carolyn Stone
for the content and Joan Mullally for producing this
presentation and series.
Books by the Authors
“Questions You Need to Ask on Your Next Job
Interview,” at:
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
For more information on the money-making
opportunies we have mentioned, go to:
http://eternalspiralbooks.com/money-making
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
30

31.
Next Steps
• In this part, we discussed assessing where you
are in your career and with your personal goals
in order to move forward with your job hunt and
make the most of the opportunities available
• In part 5, we will discuss time management, the
importance of follow up, and maintaining
discipline throughout your job search
• Review any parts of this series you have not
already viewed, then move on to the final part.
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/questions
31